Run screaming? LOL I think any of those 700 series have plastic gears. Those machines jump timing and such. I guess they are not too much problem for people who fix their own machines. But I would avoid.

Ahh, that's exactly what i was afraid of when i looked at it. LOL I saw plastic knobs and was very hesitant about purchasing. There was also a Morse machine but it was without power and pedal so i couldn't test. Thanks for your quick answer It was exactly what i wanted to know.

I would skip the Singer and grab the Morse even though it does not have a foot controller. Morse sewing machines are awesome. You might even get it real cheap because you can't test it. It does pay to dicker.

The Morse is only 15 bucks with the cabinet (needs lots of work) and a new belt. So it's already pretty cheap. So I'll go back tomorrow and nab it. The sewing machines you see in the background of these photos are Singers: A Scholastic 717 and a Futura II

http://imgur.com/a/GBcSI <-- Entire photo album (eh, it's the same pics here. )
If you look behind this machine that is a Singer Futura II hiding in the background

This is the side, you can see it has a lamp. in the background you can see another sewing machine, that is the Singer Scholastic #717
The connector where the power goes and the belt, which is quite literally hanging by a thread. But the motor turns easily when i try with my fingers.
Good Housekeeping approved and it's a Super Dial

As you can tell there is a whole lot of dust on this machine. It sticking on it perpendicular. Here is the motor and it's information.

Model Number? Not sure... if you can identify, i'd be very grateful. I can't tell if it's a Heavy Duty or an Industrial. I'm figuring a heavy duty. *grin* As you can see in some of the pics the cabinet needs help. It looks like it was used as a table to hold drinks. But over all it's a pretty machine.

Aren't you in Australia? If not I'm confusing you with someone else. I noticed the Morse has a US voltage motor.

Anyway ... That Morse is a domestic sewing machine. A good strong one, yes, but a domestic none the less. Definitely not a heavy duty or industrial machine.
However having said that it is a lot heavier duty than the plastic Singers in the back ground.

I have one of those machines badged as an American Home and it sews very nice.
For $15.00 I'd grab the Morse. Belts are not expensive, and neither are motors, wiring or controllers..... at least not in the U.S., not sure about AU.

And I wouldn't go so far as to say the 70s and newer Singer were machines from Hades, some of them work very well. But, I also wouldn't depend on them. Those stinking plastic gears have a tendency of breaking just when you are in the middle of a project.
My wife and I had two of them do that to us.